Registration for the fall 2012 season is closed.
The fall cross country season begins September 6. We know that many familes are scrambling to establish back-to-school routines, so we will get you "caught up to speed" when you are able to join us.
At the first practice, all runners will receive instructions on how to fill out a Running Log, which they are expected to update throughout the fall. This is for fun and we will collect them at the end of the season - everyone who reaches certain age-appropriate mileage levels over the course of the season will receive a special FPYR running shirt. The levels are:
|
AGE |
NAME |
MINIMUM DISTANCE |
|
8 and Under |
"half-marathon" |
13.1 total miles |
|
9 through 12 |
"marathon" |
26.2 total miles |
|
13 and Older |
"ultra marathon" |
50.0 total miles |
The Logs can be downloaded from the 'WHAT'S NEW?' tab on this team page.
RACE DISTANCES
We encourage all of our runners to compete at their official age-appropriate distance, declared by USA Track and Field (USATF). Some runners, though, may need a race or two at a shorter distance to get to that level.
2012 USATF National Age Divisions and Respective Race Distances:
|
Age Division Name |
Birth Year |
Age at the End of the Year (December 31, 2012) |
Distance
(K = kilometer) |
Approximate Distance in Miles |
|
Sub-Bantam |
born in or after 2004 |
ages 8 and under |
2K |
1.24 |
|
Bantam |
born in 2002 and 2003 |
ages 9 - 10 |
3K |
1.86 |
|
Midget |
born in 2000 and 2001 |
ages 11 - 12 |
3K |
1.86 |
|
Youth |
born in 1998 and 1999 |
ages 13 - 14 |
4K |
2.48 |
|
Intermediate |
born in 1996 and 1997 |
ages 15 - 16 |
5K |
3.10 |
|
Young Women/Men |
born in 1994 and 1995 |
ages 17 - 18 |
5K |
3.10 |
Further, for our in-season smaller local meets, the youngest runners are further broken out from the Sub-Bantam 7 and 8 year-olds to create a seperate "6 & Under" age division at the 1K race distance. This is not an offical USATF age group, but encourages the youngest runners by reducing their peer group.
|
Age Division Name |
Birth Year |
Age at the End of the Year (December 31, 2012) |
Distance
(K = kilometer) |
Approximate Distance in Miles |
|
6 & U |
born in or after 2006 |
age 6 and under |
1K |
0.62 |
|
Sub-Bantam |
born in 2004 and 2005 |
ages 7 - 8 |
2K |
1.24 |
*There is no 6 & Under age group for any level of Junior Olympics competition. The youngest age division is Sub-Bantam, which includes age 8 and under runners at the 2K race distance. . Please see the AGE GROUPINGS FOR PRACTICES AND COMPETITION and the JUNIOR OLYMPICS, AAU, AND HERSHEY OPTIONAL EXTENDED SEASON COMPETITION tabs for more information.
DIFFERENT COURSES FOR MEETS AND PRACTICES
There is something to be said for the familiarity and perceived advantage of a home soccer pitch, running track, or basketball court. But in the end, the dimensions and playing surfaces for these sports are relatively consistent.
That is certainly NOT the case for cross country running. Every course is different in many ways:
layout (loop(s) vs. "out-and-back" vs. "point-to-point");
surface (grass vs. dirt vs. gravel or crushed stone vs. paved blacktop);
geography (meadow vs. woods);
terrain (flat vs. hilly) -
and most challenging and fun courses have a little of all of these elements.
Course walks are offered at the beginning of most meets, but it really pays off for runners to have a practice or two on the courses prior to their races. Our schedule includes pre-race practices on all courses in the central Fairfax area. While this strategy counts on the extra planning and patience of parents, knowing a course really instills confidence in the runner for their race. It eliminates the biggest variable contributing to pre-race anxiety.
PROVIDENCE PARK GENERAL MAP
The yellow line is the full race course loop (minus start and finish areas on the field).
The course is broken into smaller red, green, purple and blue loops which are utilized as practice areas.
DANIELS RUN PARK RACE COURSE MAP
All distances 1K-5K start and finish on the field behind Daniels Run Elementary School
VAN DYCK PARK RACE COURSE MAPS
1K: Preamble lap around the bowl (40m); one short loop (1K); finish on field
2K: One long loop (2K); finish on field
3K: Preamble lap around the bowl (160m); one short loop (1K); one long loop (2K); finish on field
4K: Preamble lap around the bowl (120m); 2 long loops (2K); finish on field
5K: Preamble lap around the bowl (280m); one short loop (1K); two long loops (2K); finish on field
